Visual Artist and Islander

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About

Growing up on Britain’s most remote inhabited island, Fair Isle, I have spent the majority of my life as part of extreme landscapes and fragile communities.

Through my work I study and explore my rugged island surroundings. I use traditional methods of craftsmanship such as knitting, preserving skins, net making and metal work, to explore relationships between material and surface; and between man made and natural.

I am interested in the passing of knowledge through generations, resulting in communities having a deep understanding toward their island. Combining elements of painting, textiles and sculpture I embed the stories and traditions of island life into the materials and imagery of the works.

Vivian Ross-Smith
Born Edinburgh 1990

“Fish skins, sand, seaweed and rocks: all are brought to bear in her practice, and the effect is magical, like experiencing a northern coast through all four seasons in just one sitting.” – Jordan Ogg, The Island Review